NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: April 21, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

Stanley Cup Playoff Upsets & Early Series Action

The opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs featured several dramatic finishes and early upsets, including the Montreal Canadiens edging the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 in overtime, fueled by a power-play hat trick from 22-year-old Juraj Slafkovsky, the 2022 No. 1 overall pick, who scored the winner 1:22 into the extra session. Lightning coach Jon Cooper later lamented the loss, citing the penalty 'stupidity' that cost his club in Game 1, contrasting sharply with the success of other top seeds; the Colorado Avalanche, for instance, saw Logan O'Connor cap a long personal comeback with the game-winning goal in their Game 1 victory over the Kings on Sunday night. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Flyers took a 2-0 series lead over the rival Penguins after 19-year-old Porter Martone netted the game-winning goal with 2:37 left to secure a 3-2 win, with Martone becoming the first teenager in franchise history to score in each of his first two playoff contests.

Western Conference Showdowns & Injury Woes

In the Western Conference quarterfinals, the Dallas Stars face early adversity after losing Game 1 against the Minnesota Wild 6-1, continuing an "undesirable pattern" where they have now dropped the opener in nine of their last 11 playoff series; however, the Stars managed to even the series at 1-1 on Monday night by correcting the miscues that plagued them initially, though they traveled to Minnesota without injured top-line center Roope Hintz, who remained in Texas for treatment. Elsewhere, the Edmonton Oilers secured a narrow 4-3 victory in Game 1 against the Anaheim Ducks, aided by the return of star center Leon Draisaitl from a lower-body injury suffered March 15; Draisaitl contributed two points in the opener as Kasperi Kapanen fired home the eventual winner with just 1:54 remaining in the third period.

Coaching Changes & Turning the Page

Coaching adjustments appear to be yielding immediate results for some teams, as the Vegas Golden Knights, under new bench boss John Tortorella, maintained their regulation-loss-free streak since his arrival last month by rallying with three third-period goals Sunday to defeat the Mammoth 4-2 in Game 1. For teams looking to build on narrow victories, the Carolina Hurricanes needed a dramatic finish after a potential winning goal was overturned and a penalty shot was stopped, ultimately seeing Jordan Martinook score in the second overtime to seal the win against Linus Ullmark. Post-game focus for other victorious clubs, such as the Buffalo Sabres, immediately shifted toward maintaining momentum, as players acknowledged savoring their special playoff win before turning their attention to Game 2 preparations.

Offseason Decisions & Franchise Outlooks

Away from the ice action, front-office management is preparing for the offseason, including the Washington Capitals, who have confirmed that team brass is prepared regardless of whether captain Alex Ovechkin, who turns 40 this year, chooses to return for a 22nd NHL campaign. Across the league, the New Jersey Devils introduced their new General Manager, Sunny Mehta, who on Tuesday emphasized the need to focus strictly on the process when building a title contender, avoiding specific commentary on immediate roster moves. These organizational discussions occur as fans and analysts look ahead, with media outlets already ranking the top 50 players expected to dictate the outcome of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.